HAND-MADE MOCCASINS

A Grade 9 English teacher at Burnett Secondary, David Giesbrecht, has given an Aboriginal student in his class the opportunity to do an Inquiry Project on the subject of Hand-Made Moccasins.  Some of the questions of the inquiry project are as follows: 

-       Who were making moccasins?

-       What is the material necessary to make them?

-       Since when were moccasins hand-made?

-       Why do we still hand-make moccasins?

-       What is being learned in the process of making moccasins? 

But most importantly, two significant questions about making moccasins contribute to a deeper understanding and self-discovery when involved in this activity:

-       What does a person learn about oneself by making moccasins?

-       Is there a traditional protocol when hand-making moccasins?

When using an animal skin to make an object, it is the protocol in First Nations culture to say thank you to the animal for giving its life for us to make moccasins. That is a way of showing respect to the animals and not taking them for granted.

Aboriginal students have shared with me that making moccasins is a way of connecting with the Aboriginal culture and experiencing a greater sense of belonging and respect for Mother Earth.

All my relations,

Monique Giard, Aboriginal Success Teacher, mgiard@sd38.bc.ca